Vehicle.



No. 820,707.' PATENTED MATH, 1906. M. DOWNER. VEHICLE} APPLiGATION FILED APR. 11 1904.

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No. 820,707. PAT-ENTEDMAY 15, 1906 M. DOWNER. VEHICLE.

APPLICATION 11.21) APR. 11, 1904.

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i 5 Wi 726 535615 v fu/enfm" UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MURILLO DOWNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed April 11, 1904. Serial No. 202,512.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is an inverted plan view of a vehicle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a 5 sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the air-cushioning device shown in section. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but of a modified form of my invention. Fig.

0 5 is a detail view ofanother modification in section. v

Like parts are designated by like letters of reference in all of the drawings. A A are longitudinal supporting-beams 5 connected and forming a part of the vehiclebody, the ends of which are preferably curved downward.

A A are cross braces or supports. B B B B represent the lever-arms by 0 means of which the running-gear is connected to the supports A A of the body. I have shown these lever-arms as being connected to the supports A A; but it will be obvious that they might as well be connected immediately 5 to the vehicle-body, if desired. There are four-of these lever-arms and four sets of cushioning and supporting apparatus connected therewith, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one at each corner of the vehicle, but as all are alike it will be sufficient to describeone of them. Each of the lever-arms B is preferably curved upward at one end and is pivotally connected by the pin B, somewhat loosely, so as to give a free motion to the 5 link B, which is similarly connected with an end of one of the supports A by another pin B The other end of the arm B is provided with a suitable socket B, which receives the ball C of the plunger-rod G. O has at its 0' other extremity the ball 0 so as to provide for another ballandsocket joint.

D D are axles of the vehicle, and E E E E the vehicle-wheels.

Each lever-arm B is connected to its axle by collars F F, having perforated lugs F F. One of these lugs passes on each side of arm B, which has a perforation registering with the perforations of the lugs F F. A pin F passes through these perforations and connects collars FF and arm B, so as to allow the arm B to rock on the pin F as a pivot.

Associated witheach lever B is an air-cylinder G, suitably fastened to the supports A A of the vehicle-body and-of any preferred sort. The cylinder G has a plunger G therein, which is provided with a suitable socket to receive the ball 0 of rodO.

H is an air-storage tank supplying the cylinders. Tank H is supplied through pipe H",

having the check-valve H and the shut-off valve H and the'removable cap H.

H is a pressure-regulating valve in the pipe H, which leads from tank H to the pipes H, which in turn conduct the air to the cylinders G through the check-valves H there being one of these check-valves for each cylinder. Each cylinder G is also provided with a safety-valve J, located in the outletpipe J and operated by the crank J and its depending rod J such rod being hooked at its lower end, so as to engage with the leverarm B. s

In operation whenthe pressure in the aircylinder becomes excessive, so as to raise the body of the vehicle above a certain point, the valve J will be automatically opened, so as to allow the escape of air fromthe cylinder.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing amodified form of the invention, wherein the arm B is slightly different in shape and is pivoted to a downwardly-projecting. part A on the support A. The connection with the cylinder 18 the same as shown in Figs .1 and 2; but in this form the connection with the runnin gear is made by a roller B which is pivoted on the arm B and which rests upon the bolster L, to which therunning-gear is connected. By giving to this bolster L'the proper shape this form of my invention may be adapted for use in cases where it is desired to turn a portion of the running-gear with respect to the wagon-bodyas, for example, when the vehicle is to be steered by turning the entire front axle and wheels. The arrangement of the cushioning devices and also that shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, as has been said, contemplates the use of four sets of cylinders and lever-arms, one at each corner of the vehicle; but this is not necessary to the carrying out of my nvention, and in Fig. 4 I have shown a modification wherein but one cylinder is used upon each side of the vehicle. In such case the le- IIO Me. As my form of su ver-arms B are made somewhat longer, their ends being overlapped and slotted at B so as to receive a transverse pin C upon the end of rod C. In this form of my invention the cylinders G, one on each side of the vehicle, are placed midway between the ends of the supports A A. i

I have thus described in detail three forms of devices embodying my invention; but it is obvious that there might be a Wide departure from the particular forms and constructions and arrangements of parts as above shown without going outside of the broad scopecf my invention, and therefore I do not limit myself to the particular forms, devices, and arrangements described.

The use and operation of my device are as follows: The tank H is supplied with air or' other suitable fluid throug the pipe H and delivers an equal res sure of the fiuid to all of the cylinders, t e amount being regulated by the pressure-diminishing valve H The cylinders G will obviously perform the function of air-cushions, acting in connection with the pivoted lever-arms to give the wagon-body a secure but elastic seat upon the running-gear. The advantages of this disposition of air-cushions and of the use of the pivoted supporting The cylinders, for examp e, may be located elsewhere than in the customary place upon the axle. This is desirable partlcularly in the case of motor-cars, where the space about the axles isifrequently required for motor mechanism. As shown in Fig. 4, two aircylinders may be made to sufiice to cushion the vehicle, if desired. The use of the levers in connection with the air cylinders has also this decided advantage, that the cylinders may be thus locatedin any desired laces upon the lower'part of the vehicle bo y and on either side of the axle. Therefore by makin the-lever of considerable length from its fu 'crum tn the running-gear to its connection with the plunger a long stroke is given to, the plunger, and consequently a relatively great spring to the vehicle on an amount of pressure smaller than would otherwise be possiporting and cushioning device engages wit the vehicle-body at numerous placesfor example, in the first two forms shown at eight different points and in the last at six-it will be clear that the strain onthe vehicle is better distributed than customarily, thus saving wear and tear thereon.

I claim- 1. Avehicle comprising a vehicle-body and running-gear in combination with an aircushion device on the vehicle-body and a suporting-lever, such supporting device being interposed between the vehicle-body, its running-gear and such cushioning device.

2. A vehicle comprising a body and run- 6 g uing-gear in combination with a fluid-presarts are several.

sure cushion on the vehicle-body, and a supporting device connected at different points longitudinally thereon'with the fluid-pressure cushion, the body of the vehicle and its running-gear.

3, A vehicle comprising a vehicle-body, running-gear, a fluid cushioning device, and a lever fulcrumed on the running-gear and being engaged at opposed points thereupon by the vehicle-body and such fluid cushioning device. I

4. In a vehicle the'combination of a vehicle-body, running-gear, a fluid-pressure device on the vehicle-body, and a supporting- .lever interposed between the vehicle-body and its running-gear and associated with the fluid-pressure device so as to put the same in' operation under the load of the vehicle.

5. In a supporting and cushioning device for vehicles the combination of an air-cylinder connected with the vehicle-body, a plunger in such cylinder, and a supporting device associated with the running-gear and movablyconnected at different points on such device with the Wagon-body and with the plunger of such cylinder so as to transmit the pressure of the vehicle-body against the air in the cylinder.

6. In a supporting and cushioning device for vehicles the combination of a cylinder with a plunger therein, and a supporting device connected with the running-gear of the vehicle and associated at points on either.

side of the place of its connection with the running-gear, respectively with the vehiclebody and the cylinderplunger, so as-to support such vehicle-body against the pressure of fluid in the cylinder.

7. In a supporting and cushioning device for vehicles the combination of an air-cylin der connected with the vehicle-body, a plunger in such cylinder, a supporting device associated with the running-gear and connect- -ed with the vehicle-body and with the plunger of such cylinder, so as to cushion the vehicle-bodyagainst the air in the cylinder, a safety-valve associated with such cylinder,

' and means connected with the supporting device for automatically operating such valve under predetermined conditions. v

8. In a supporting and cushioning device for vehicles the combination of an air-cylinder connected with the vehicle-body, a plunger in such cylinder, and a supporting device associated with the running-gear and movably connected. with the wagon-body and withthe plun er of such cylinder so as to cushion the ve hicle-body against the air in the cylinder, such supporting device comprising a lever fulcrumed upon a part of the runningear and having pivoted links at each end thereof for making connections with the wagon-body and with the plunger.

9. A vehicle comprising a vehicle-body'and running-gear in connection With a plurality of air-cushions, a plurality ofsupporting devices mov'ably connected with the vehiclebody and with the air-cushions, and i'ulcrumed on a part of the running-gear of the vehicle, and an air-storage tank with connec% tions to the several air-cushions.

10. A vehicle comprising avnhiele-body, longitudinal supporting-beams connected therewith, a plurality of fluid-pressure cylinders having plungers herein a pliwality of supporting devicesmovably connected near 11. A supporting and cushioning device for vehicles comprising an air-cushion, a hanger device on the axle of the vehicle, and a supporting-beam pivotally attached to the vehicle-body near one end, associated with the air-cushion near the other end, and pivotally connected with the hanger device therebetween. v

12. A supporting and cushioning device for vehicles comprising an air-cushion, a supporting-beam pivotally attached to one end to the body of the wa on, and associated at the other end with t e air-cushion, and a movable device on such supporting device adapted to give a movable connection between such supporting-beam and the running-gear of the vehicle.

13. In a cushioning device for vehicles, the combination of an air-cushion comprising a cylinder and a piston with a lever, the lever being connected with the supporting and supported parts of the vehicle with the piston of such air-cushion so as to transmit the pressure of the load against the air-cushion device.

, MURILLO DOWNER.

Witnesses:

HOMER L. KRAFT,

PERorvAL F. TRUMAN. 

